Lake Mary Wins, Stays Alive In Race

October 18, 1986|By Creig Ewing of The Sentinel Staff

DAYTONA BEACH — Consider Lake Mary hooked to life support systems but still technically alive in Class AAAAA, District 4 after checking out of Memorial Stadium Friday night with a heart-stopping, 7-0 overtime victory over Port Orange Spruce Creek.

Halfback John Curry (17 carries, 83 yards) got to be the hero by default. No one else seemed to want to score until Curry burst in from 3 yards on the second play in overtime.

Anthony Hartsfield intercepted Spruce Creek quarterback Vince Holloman's pass in overtime after it was jarred out of Clarence Tiller's hands to preserve the victory. It was Hollomon's fourth interception of the game.

For 1,400 fans it was a gut-wrenching experience. Lake Mary (2-3, 1-1) missed two field goals in the final 31 seconds and Spruce Creek (1-4, 1-1) missed one.

Spruce Creek was at the Rams' 11 with fewer than four minutes remaining. But on third down linebacker Mike Smith (nine tackles) sacked Holloman for a nine-yard loss.

Spruce Creek kicker David Jones made the 37-yard field goal, but an illegal procedure penalty moved the ball back five yards, and he missed the 42-yard try.

The Rams got into scoring range when quarterback Shane Letterio completed a 31-yard pass to a diving Sheldon Richards on the Hawks 15. But Letterio was shaken up on the play.

Hartsfield came in and couldn't move the ball. An illegal procedure penalty, muffed snap and sack moved the ball back to the 25.

Mark Renaud attempted a 43-yard field goal with 31 seconds left, but it was short. However, Richards intercepted Holloman's next pass and returned it to the 18, but Renaud's 35-yard attempt as time ran out also fell short.

A penalty also cost Spruce Creek a touchdown in the second quarter.

On third-and-4 from the Rams' 13, Holloman passed to Bo Gallman, who ducked past defenders into the corner of the end zone.

However, the Hawks were called for clipping at the 2, and the ball was brought back to the 17. Jones tried a 34-yard field goal with 3:16 left in the half, but it was short.

The Rams still can tie for the district title if they win their two remaining district games and get some help from Spruce Creek. The Hawks are the only AAAAA-4 team left to play DeLand (3-0).